Obituary Notices for the Week of January 27, 2010

 

David Piere

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, January 22, 2010 for David William Piere, 79, of Winthrop, formerly of the Hewitt/Verndale area, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Winthrop with Father Ron Huberty celebrating the Mass. David quietly finished his life's journey on January 17, at the Good Samaritan Center in Winthrop after a brief battle with cancer. David was surrounded by his family as he gently took God's hand.
David was born March 11, 1930 on the Piere family farm, Bartlett Township, to Ernest and Emma (Peka) Piere. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. He attended District 112 country school and then Bertha High School, graduating in 1948. David served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953 and was stationed in Germany.
David met Marlene M. Ganske at the Clarissa Ballroom in 1953 and they were joined in marriage September 27, 1954 at Trinity Lutheran in Hewitt. David and Marlene shared 50 years together before she passed away on November 17, 2004. They made their home in St. Paul after their marriage, where he worked as a mason. They returned to Bartlett Township in 1955, operating a dairy farm for 41 years. In 1997 they moved to rural Winthrop.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marlene; parents Ernie and Emma; sister Mavis Lubke; brother John in infancy; and grandson Travis Piere.
David is survived by his sons and spouses: David Jr. and Doreley of Carlos, Daniel and Pat of Wadena, Joseph and Marge of Andover, and Duane and Vickie of Winthrop; brother Lawrence Piere of Verndale; brother-in-law Raymond Lubke of Billings, Montana; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harold and Ethel Roth of New Ulm, sister-in-law Maybelle Ganske of Bertha; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.
David will be remembered for his kindness and ability to touch those around him with his appreciation of life. He took pride in caring for his animals, especially his Holstein cattle. In the 41 years at the Bartlett farm he created a beautiful stone fence, a tribute to his patience and skill. He loved gardening, his chickens, flower beds, concertina music and the many dogs that shared his life. He is survived by his good canine buddy Tucker.
Casket bearers were his four sons and his neighbors David Hahn and Jimmy Bauer. Honorary casket bearers were his many friends who thought so highly of him.
Burial was in the New Ulm City Cemetery. Full Military Honors were conducted at the cemetery by the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard.

Elizabeth Petersen

The funeral service for Elizabeth Petersen, 97, of Clarissa, will be held on Wednesday, January 27 at 11 a.m. at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Clarissa. Elizabeth passed away on Thursday, January 21 at the Greater Staples Care Center.
Elizabeth was born on August 23, 1912 to William and Mary (Noska) Brabec, Sr. on the family farm in Ward Township. She attended country school at district 123 through 8th grade. Liz worked for many different people, mostly in food service and housekeeping.
At a young age, Elizabeth married Emmanuel Knause and a year later, Emmanuel died of cancer. Several years later, Liz married Douglas Engdahl and after two years their marriage ended. On September 12, 1960 Elizabeth married Wilbur "Bud" Petersen and together they farmed on Bud's farm in Ward Township.
In 1975, they retired and moved into Clarissa. Shortly after Bud's death in 2003, Liz moved into the Central Todd County Care Center, from there she moved to Long Prairie and then to the Care Center in Staples.
Liz enjoyed baking and was a great cook, she liked music and going dancing.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands--Emmanuel, Douglas and Bud; siblings William, Emma, Arthur, Louis, Albina, John, Ella and Anna.
Elizabeth is survived by her son Darrell (Claudia) Engdahl of Staples; step-daughter Kitty (Veryl) Finlason of Sartell, 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be at the Immanuel Cemetery, near Bertha.

Harold Nohre

Funeral services for Harold Ernest Nohre, 99, of Eagle Bend were held on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Eagle Bend with Reverend Cordell Strug and Reverend Mary Carol Strug presiding. Harold passed away on January 23, at the Central Todd County Care Center in Clarissa.
Harold was born on July 15, 1910 in Blackhammer Township, Houston County, Spring Grove, to Oliver and Nellie (Ellestad) Nohre. In 1912, he moved to Holt with his parents. He was confirmed at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt.
Harold graduated from Thief River Falls High School in 1928. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead in June 1934. He was a member of the Concordia College football team.
In 1937, Harold was united in marriage with Cecelia Peterson in Holt. They purchased the Hartz Store in Pembina, North Dakota, and then later farmed near Holt. After farming for a few years, he became the Math and German teacher at Eagle Bend High School for 17 years. He retired in 1972 and did carpentry work.
Harold served on numerous boards in his community and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Eagle Bend. He entered the Care Center in Clarissa in 2000.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife Cecelia in 1984; parents Oliver and Nellie; and sisters Ethel Starr and Gertrude Peterson.
He is survived by his brother-in-law F. Robert Starr of Redwood Falls and numerous nieces and nephews.
Interment was in the Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Eagle Bend.
Blessed be his memory.

Lorraine Westergren

Funeral services for Lorraine Martha Westergren, 70, of Royalton, and formerly of Deerwood and Bertha, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 29, 2010 at the New Life Church of God in Bertha with Pastor Mark Brown and Pastor Mike Palkie presiding. Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services on Friday at the church. Lorraine went to heaven on January 23 at 6 p.m. in her home at Royalton surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Lorraine was born on February 4,1939 to Herman and Evelyn Priebe in Russell. Lorraine went to High School in Bertha and Nursing school in St. Paul. She married Wayne William Westergren on February 13th 1960 in Eagle Bend. She resided in Bertha for many years, in Deerwood for 14 years and Royalton for 7 months. Lorraine spent her life in service to others. From serving our Savior through numerous Church related activities, raising her six children, and caring for many people at a Nursing home in Parkers Prairie and home health care in the Crosby area. Lorraine and her husband Wayne took excellent care of Camp Arrowhead by Deerwood for the Church of God.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents Herman and Evelyn and brother Merle Priebe.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years; children Audrey (Terry) Skoczen of Rice, Arlen (Jean Wildtraut) Westergren of St. Cloud, Brian (Lora) Westergren of Bertha, Julie (Lonny) Lewis of St. Cloud, Mark (Pam) Westergren of Royalton and Kaye (Jon Krause) Westergren of St. Cloud; grandchildren Joshua, Matthew, Jennifer, Lisa, Tiffany, Zachary and Kaitlyn; great-grandchildren Nicholas, Abby, Carter and Drew; twin sister Lorretta (Allen) Pfeffer of Breckenridge and sister Lanita Priebe of Wadena; and sister-in-law Elaine (Benning)Priebe of Wisconsin.
Pallbearers will be Allan Westergren, Jack Westergren, Duane Pfeffer, Bruce Pfeffer, Jim Priebe, Mike Priebe, Mike Grunewald and John Marchand
Interment will be in the Zion Cemetery west of Bertha.
Lorraine will always be remembered by us as a very kind and patient person who always put others needs before hers. Thank you, Mom. We love you.

Orville Lind

Orville O. Lind, age 80, of St. Charles, Missouri, passed away on January 7, 2010 of pancreatic cancer.
He was born in Minot, North Dakota, and raised on a farm north of Clarissa and graduated from Clarissa High School in 1947.
He served four years in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Patuxent River, Maryland; Whidbey Island, Washington; and Point Barrow, Alaska.
He retired after 38 plus years of employment at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis. He was an usher for 43 years at St. Cletus Catholic Church and was a member of the American Legion post 312 in St. Charles.
Orville was the son of the late Oscar and Rose Lind of Clarissa.
He is survived by his wife Lorraine of St. Charles; daughter Janet and her husband Michael Friend; grandsons Christopher and Patrick Friend of Colorado Springs, Colorado; brothers Jim and Byron Lind; and sister Liane Bascou; as well as other relatives.

Felty Beachy

Felty D. Beachy, son of Daniel and Mattie Beachy, was born on May 12, 2009 and passed away on January 14, 2010 at the age of 8 months and 2 days due to acute leukemia.
Felty leaves to mourn his departure: his parents, four brothers and four sisters: Mary, Ida, Lena, Jonas, Jacob, Joni, Lydia and Levi; one grandfather, two grandmothers, uncles, aunts, cousins and one step-grandfather.
Preceding him in death were one grandfather, two uncles and one aunt.